Service

In keeping with the Saint Kentigern Mission Statement: ‘...to provide education which inspires students to strive for excellence in all areas of life for the glory of God and the service of others,’ there are many opportunities during the course of the year when our girls are encouraged to provide assistance to those less fortunate than our own families.

The presence of the colourful Sharing Shed on our campus is a constant visual reminder about the centrality of our values programme and the importance that ‘service to others’ holds within our Mission Statement. Our school has formed a special bond with the Dingwall Trust which administers a children’s home in Papatoetoe. Our girls and their families are encouraged to use our Sharing Shed to donate used clothing, books, toys and household goods which are collected by the Trust for distribution to those in their care. These items that are surplus to our own families’ needs greatly ease the financial burden for others. At Christmastime our girls also prepare Christmas gift stockings for the children at Dingwall.

As our girls progress through their Saint Kentigern schooling, service opportunities at both school and community level abound. They are encouraged to become involved with global projects such as World Vision’s 20 or 40 Hour Famine and Sponsor a Child; to contribute to food banks; to understand the purpose and end result of Chapel offerings; and to particularly understand the significance of the Sharing Shed and the community links it forges.

However, service does not always have to be about big issues; it can be acts of kindness, consideration and compassion in the classroom, in the playground, on the sports field, or at home. It is these little acts of service, encouraged at an early age, that build a foundation for moral reasoning later in life. Service learning allows students to discover ‘their best selves’ and develop lifelong habits.

Saint Kentigern Service Award

The Saint Kentigern Service Award is available to students in Year 7 and 8. The Award encourages and acknowledges the girls at Saint Kentigern Girls' School as they engage in acts of service at school, at home and in the community. The Award comprises three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each girl who undertakes the Service Award is responsible for recording her progress in a Service Portfolio, which she maintains under the guidance of the Chaplain.

To stay faithful to our Mission Statement, we will continue to provide opportunities for students to put service into action; for service to become an intrinsic part of every Saint Kentigern students’ outlook on life- to live The Saint Kentigern Way.